Speak not evil one of another, brethren,.... The apostle here returns to his former subject, concerning the vices of the tongue, he had been upon in the preceding chapter, Jas 3:6, and here mentions one, which professors of religion were too much guilty of, and that is, speaking evil one of another; which is done either by raising false reports, and bringing false charges; or by aggravating failings and infirmities; or by lessening and depreciating characters, and endeavouring to bring others into discredit and disesteem among men: this is a very great evil, and what the men of the world do, and from them it is expected; but for the saints to speak evil one of another, to sit and speak against a brother, and slander an own mother's son, is barbarous and unnatural.
Bible Commentary
James 4:11
James 4:11
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
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I. We are cautioned against the sin of evil-speaking: Speak not evil
one of another, brethren, v. 11. The Greek word, katalaleite, signifies
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